Los Estudios Comparativos: algunas notas históricas, epistemológicas y metodológicas

Abstract

-Comparative Studies: historical, epistemological and methodological notes. In this article some historical, epistemological and methodological issues related to comparative studies in the social sciences are addressed, with specific reference to the field of education. The starting point is a discussion of the meaning of comparison, its logical structure and its presence in science and in everyday life. It follows the presentation and critical appraisal of the perspectives regarding comparison as a scientific method. It is argued that, even rejecting this restrictive meaning of comparison as a method, there is some consensus on the specificity of comparative studies within the social sciences. And in relation to them, the article address in more detail those studies that can be defined as trans-contextual (cross-national and cross-cultural), with emphasis on the main methodological and technical challenges they face. The socio-historical comparative perspective, which has gained importance in recent years in the field of education, is also discussed. Keywords: Comparative Studies. Comparative Method. Social Sciences. Methodology. RESUMEN -Los Estudios Comparativos: algunas notas históricas, epistemológicas y metodológicas.En este artículo se abordan algunas cuestiones históricas, epistemológicas y metodológicas relacionadas con los estudios comparativos en las ciencias sociales, con referencias específicas al campo de la educación. A partir de una consideración general de la comparación, su estructura lógica y su presencia en la ciencia y en la vida cotidiana, se avanza hacia la presentación y valoración crítica de las posturas que la definen como método científico. Por otra parte, se sostiene que, aún cuando se rechace este significado restrictivo de la comparación como método, existe cierto consenso en torno de la especificidad de los estudios comparativos en las ciencias sociales. Y en relación con ellos, en el artículo se discuten con mayor detalle los de carácter trans-contextual (cross-national y cross-cultural), con énfasis en los principales desafíos metodológicos y técnicos que afrontan. Se analiza también la perspectiva comparativa socio histórica, que ha adquirido importancia en los últimos años en el campo de la educación. Palabras-clave: Estudios Comparativos. Metodo Comparado. Ciencias Sociales. Metodologia.

Comparison as a Method for Geography Education

“…The operation of comparing is a natural and elementary process of human thinking. Therefore, most scholars differentiate between everyday comparison and comparison as a scientific mode of research [6,58,59]. The former is a way of thinking and an everyday operation that is "so fundamental to our cognition that thinking without comparison is almost unthinkable" [6] (p. 115).…”

“…In contrast to the everyday comparison, which is often a subconscious procedure, comparisons made within a scientific frame are different in that "the selection and definitions of objects and the properties are compared, as well as in the care and systematically of the procedures of production and analysis of the data from which the comparison are made" [59] (p. 822). Whilst everyday comparison is based on comparison of similarities and differences, and thus refers to a descriptive, informative level of thinking that offers no direct connection value for theoretical knowledge, complex and systematized comparison is a method that goes beyond that [58] (p. 23).…”

“…First, it must be noted that a question is not taken into account in the model. However, a question is essential for comparison and should come before comparison, as it determines the criteria and factors for further comparison [59] (p. 835). Furthermore, the sequence of the individual steps that are outlined in the model is not clear and cannot be clearly distinguished from one another.…”

“…Additionally, further concerns of scholars have previously been expressed with regard to what can be compared. A point of criticism often identified is the focus of nation states on the subject areas identified for comparison [15,24,59]. In the majority of cases, research designs focused on comparison are designed for international comparisons of states, as was the model of Hilker [64] and Bereday [65] presented previously.…”

Tools, Gaps and False Myths in Comparative Legal Research on Human Rights

“…The main input of comparative analysis in political and social science is the diagnosis of social problems, the design of public policies, and the search for parameters (Piovani et al 2017). Therefore, emphasis is placed on properties and objects, either through a quantitative or qualitative approach, or in the triangulation of both variables.…”